TASK FORCE TO PUSH CONSTITUTON DRAFTING

Kathmandu, 12 Oct.: In an effort to push the delayed constitution drafting process, 27 political parties in the constituent assembly (CA) Monday formed a seven-member task force to narrow down differences on the contests of a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic.
Chiefs of parties, including Maoist Chairman Prachanda, NC Vice-Chairman Ram Chandra Paudel and UML Chairmen Jhalanath Khanal are members of the task force given the responsibility to submit a report by 24 October.
At least 225 differences between parties have been identified, including the form of government and the nature of a federal structure.
An elected CA couldn’t promulgate a constitution within the two-year mandate which ended 28 May 2020.
An unelected CA extended its tenure for another one year and no work has been registered in four months after extension.
Assembly members and lawmakers are engaged in a tussle to bring down the government and seize control of Singha Durbar only.
A successor of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned under Maoist pressure more than 100 years hasn’t been found even after 12 rounds of parliamentary vote.
Nnnn

FIFTH DAY OF DASAIN

Kathmandu, 12 Oct.: Devotees thronged temples and offered puja at Bhagabati temples on the fifth day of Dasain Tuesday.
Bada Dasain is on 17 October Sunday.
Nnnn

NEPAL PLAYS BHUTAN

Kathmandu, 12 Oct. Defending champion Nepal plays neighbouring Bhutan in the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship in Singapore Tuesday.
Nepal entered the final after beating UAE Monday while Bhutan defeated Hong Kong in another group match.
Nnnn

Crackdown on illegal foreign channels starts

Kathmandu, 12 Oct.: The Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has directed all 75 districts administration offices to take foreign channels who haven’t received its downlink permission off air. Such a move follows widespread complaints that some foreign channels are broadcasting indecent and anti-social contents. MoIC a few days ago had formed a committee to oversee the content of foreign channels before giving downlink permission, Kamal Dev Bhattarai writes in The Kathmandu Post.

According to cable television entrepreneurs more than 125 foreign channels are available across the nation and only 95 channels have submitted applications seeking downlink permission till now.

The National Broadcasting Act 1991 makes licence compulsory for foreign channels willing to broadcast in Nepal.

The Act allows authorities to ban the unregistered foreign TV channels. MoIC is consulting with cable television operators to ban those channels that have not got its permission.

Ministry officials say if found broadcasting without acquiring the downlink permission foreign channels are subjected to punishment according to the Broadcasting regulation. “We have started monitoring across the country and the illegal channels we will be banned after Dashain,” said MoIC spokesperson Ram Bilash Koirala.

Meanwhile, MoIC has directed Nepal 1 Channel, an India-based Nepali language channel, to change itself to get the downlink license.“Nepal 1 Channel is broadcasting news and other programmes giving an impression that Channel is a Nepali, which is not true. While broadcasting it should make clear that it is not a Nepali channel,” said Koirala. BBC and CNN are among those international television channels seeking downlink permission.
nnnn


Few takers for NRN ID cards

Kathmandu, 12 Oct.:The government in February brought into circulation NRN ID Card but going by the number of cards issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it appears, the move has failed to entice non-resident Nepalis, Lekhnath Pandey reports in The Himalayan Times.

MoFA has issued only 98 ID cards so far — 84 to NRNs and 14 to People of Nepali Origin.

Ministry officials said they were hoping a demand of up to 100 ID cards per month that would significantly contribute in revenue generation. One has to pay $ 500 for NRN ID Card and $ 50 for PNO Card.

However, the charges don’t seem to have gone down well with the NRNs.

“The government should not make NRN Card issuance a way of generating income,” said Non-Resident Nepali Association Secretary Tenji Sherpa. “The ID Card fee is ridiculous.”

MoFA Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai said issuance of ID cards in low numbers shows that NRNs were not much enthusiastic about acquiring them.

Almost all of those who have acquired the cards are NRNs living in ‘the first world countries’ of North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and Singapore. In addition to fee structure, NRNs don’t seem to be happy about the size of the cards. “It’s abnormally big in size and not at all handy. We want smart cards that easily fit into the wallet. It’s impractical to carry an extra bag for the cards. Nor can we dangle them down the chest all the time,” said Sherpa.

MoFA Secretary Bhattarai said the size could be worked out but maintained that the charges for the issuance of the cards were reasonable. “These IDs bring so many privileges to NRNs, including free visa and right to own property,” he said. “And once paid, the card is issued for 10 years. If size of the card is an issue, of course we can discuss about it.”

Another NRN official, however, argued that the lukewarm response to ID cards is due to the ongoing discussion of duel-citizenship for NRNs. “If the constitution grants NRNs duel-citizenship, there is no point hurrying in acquiring a card now,” he stated. As per the NRN Act-2007 and subsequent regulation, PNO holding foreign citizenship and Nepali citizens who are living outside for two years are entitled to NRN ID Card. Nepalis living in the South Asia region however don’t enjoy this facility.
Nnnn

NOTICE TO SUBMIT LAND DETAILS

Kathmandu, 12 Oct.: In a landmark move, the government has issued a 35-day notice into Nepali citizens to submit details of their land holdings in a bid to enforce the 10-year-old Land Reform Act that prohibits possession of land exceeding the legal ceiling. It promises to distribute excess land to the landless, Bimal Gautam reports in Republica.
The Ministry of Land Reform ad Management issued a notice to this effect one week ago, acting upon a Supreme Court order to the government to implement land reform act enacted in 2001. Implementation of the law is expected to usher in reform in land distribution in the country.
According to Secretary at MoLRM Chhabiraj Panta, those who possess land exceeding the legal ceiling are required to submit their land details either at the Land Reforms Office to Land Revenue Office in their respective districts within the designated deadline.
‘Those who own land less than the ceiling can submit their land details either at the village development committee or at municipalities,” Secretary Panta told Republica.
nnnn